Beware of SPY

SPY. They are everywhere. If you know who are they, they are no longer SPY anymore (duh!). With the widely used today's technology, which is the internet, they creep into our computer and steal our information. The fact is, there is nothing much to lose except we lose couple of cash (maybe more) and somehow we have no idea why we went bankrupt (identity theft).

The real fun began when i found out that my computer in my office started to act strangely this morning. I have uninstalled a misc software, which i have no idea where it came from and when did i install it, and i suspect that my computer has a spyware or whatever that hijacked my computer and install some software that i have no interest of using them. I did, which most people would do, uninstalled the program, download anti-spyware and clean up my computer. It did found one spyware and i killed it with the tool.

After my lunch, i opened my computer and it appeared again. I was freak out! Since I have used the task manager quite sometime, so I started to scan the processes which are not quite familiar to me. I found some new processes and start checking them on the internet. Guess what i found, client tool that used for monitor workstation. The tool is for preventing workstation from being installed any miscellaneous or pirated software.

OK, to put myself in my company shoe, I do understand why they want to do that. BUT. THIS IS A BIG BUT. We are not informed regarding the software. No memo. No annoucement or whatsoever to inform us the poor (exclude those who are earn more than 5K) and naive workers. What is the difference between those client tool and spyware? None.

However, i found a way to stop their monitoring and it is quite simple. Pull the networking plug. :D

*Updates - 24th Sep 06*
After someday using my workstation, I have more discovery. The misc software wasn't installed by the client tool. Instead, it was installed during my company software new releases. The idea was the same as some of the downloadable software in the internet, which offering Google/Yahoo toolbar that comes with along with the installation package. This means along the installation, you have the option to choose whether you want to install those add on software. Perhaps my company software new releases does not support those option interface yet (plus no annoucement) or perhaps it still under development/testing stages, therefore it leads confusion to me.

Nevertheless, the official spy is still remains. :P